Getting permission to extend in a conservation area can prove extremely problematic. Roland Cain has bought a flat but cannot get the planning permission he desperately wants to open up his attic. He plans to spend £40,000 to create an extra bedroom so his son can visit from university, but getting permission for an extended dormer window is proving a headache.The O'Reillys live in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Their home has fantastic views over the High Weald in Hastings, but they need planning permission to extend one corner of the house and incorporate an outside bedroom. Carol Boydell from Hastings Planning Office loves the area, but will she grant the all-important planning permission? It's a nail-biting wait.